Conficker... the usual April Fool's day scare, plus media hype

And obviously those in the media "reporting" about the worm known as Conficker (I can't help but see a German word in the last two syllables. Hint: it's similar to a heavy loaded insult in English) just keep copying and pasting the same blown out of proportion "story." When it comes to technology, computers, Internet and related subjects frankly few 'communicators' know what they're talking about. Look at what they did to Vista and all of them were wrong (maybe somehow right in winter 2007, but that was it). The public at large and some lazy IT staff would believe them... and would repeat the "rumors"... but enough about hot air. Not to belittle the actual threat I have to quote Microsoft: On October 23, 2008, Microsoft released a critical security update, MS08-067, to resolve a vulnerability in the Server service of Windows that, at the time of release, was facing targeted, limited attack. The vulnerability could allow an anonymous attacker to successfully take full control of a vulnerable system through a network-based attack, the sort of vectors typically associated with network "worms." Read everything related to Conficker directly from Microsoft: what could happen tomorrow, how to protect PCs from this worm, how to clean them once infected and a thorough timeline from November 2008 till present. I personally don't want to pay much attention to this, not only because I believe my iolo Antivirus and my built-in Windows Firewall are taking care of it, but also because it may be just another IT urban legend (c'mon! you're smart and you're not going to click on the "congratulations!" banner...). Besides, I like to read a refreshingly calm view cutting through the bull.... On the other hand, on Vista and Windows Server 2008, the combination of Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Protection (DEP) will make the exploitation of this vulnerability more difficult. Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003 have it tougher. Read more...

Ce clair objet du desir*

As if it wasn't enough with the impending rush of colors of the spring, and other good news around the corner, I came across, just today, the newest and coolest laptop design ever by Dell. It's called Adamo, pure Industrial Design (yes, my first career choice, still one of my greatest interests) and so attractive as to make people fall in love with it, admire greatly, covet (yes, the name is Latin). Well, among its many notable features: Windows Vista as the OS of choice! I am really glad manufacturers, like now, stopped the silliness of trying to please some customers who still, in 2009, want to be catered with Windows XP (a really old OS in computer years. Is that 8 years?!). Well done, Dell! I know, the news came out 10 days ago. [*That's French for "That light object of desire" paraphrasing unforgetable Buñuel's "Cet obscur objet du désir."]

Time to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8

That is, to IE RC1 (release candidate 1), a step ahead of the Beta version we installed back in the summer of 2008 and a step behind of the final, "gold" version. Already good reviews are coming out specially in the area of protection against malware. While still a big user of Firefox, I believe I will be using both intensely specially for their great developer add-ons. On the other hand, I will consider to completely remove my copy of Safari, apparently not fairing well in the 'browser wars.'

The inescapable taxes and good software to help

That time of the year again, getting close to April 15 and here we are facing another layer of reality on top of the rugged surface of hard times. While that's an unavoidable obligation, luckily software tools save us from dealing with the tedious work of filing a tax return. I have always used TurboTax for this purpose and, like many a good software package, it runs flawlessly in Windows Vista. It's well designed and does really a great job. I believe Vista's coming of age (which happened more or less a year ago) is an indisputable fact, even now when some users and reviewers are giving good reviews to Windows 7, like they never knew how good Vista is.

Spring Equinox, into the light...

Spring, Primavera, Printemps, Frühling is here! It came yesterday with an treasure of light to spread over the darkness... I always had this idea of wearing, during the first days of spring, a t-shirt with a picture of me wearing a beard that read: "I survived another New York winter!" It never happened, not only because I no longer want to grow a beard but because I prefer other publicity outlets rather than a piece of garment. Though, the message remains: We have survived not only the winter, but also the recession, the urban desert, the bout of unemployment, the odd jobs... We are here, sound and safe, with a job, thank God!, with renovated hopes, with the same big dreams, with poetry alive and kicking, expectant and optimistic. This is the time to fight and grow and prosper. Screw the bad news! Now, for some more info about the spring equinox...